The EU announces €180 million in emergency support to support refugees in Greece

Greece bore the weight of responsibility at the height of the Mediterranean refugee and migrant crisis which at its peak saw 10 000 men women and children arriving in the country in one day. Currently there are over 45 000 refugees and migrants who are stranded in the country.

Today, the European Commission announced an extra €180 million for aid projects in Greece, including expanding the flagship ‘Emergency Support to Integration & Accommodation’ (ESTIA) programme which helps refugees move out of camps and into urban accommodation, and provides them with regular cash assistance.

Launched in July 2017 with the UN Refugee Agency, ESTIA is the biggest EU aid operation in the country and works in line with the Greek government’s ‘out of camps’ policy. So far it has created more than 23 000 urban accommodation places and set up a cash assistance scheme serving more than 41 000 refugees and asylum seekers.

“Our humanitarian programmes for refugees in Greece are a clear and loud signal of European solidarity. We continue to deliver on our strong commitment to help refugees in Greece live more secure, normal and dignified lives, and facilitate their integration into the local economy and society. Our ESTIA programme is achieving real results to change people’s lives for the better. I pay special tribute to the Greek citizens and mayors who have welcomed refugees in their municipalities with great empathy and care,” said Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides.

Part of today’s new funding will go to other humanitarian organisations working in Greece to address immediate needs of refugees and migrants such as shelter, primary health care, psycho-social support, improved hygiene conditions, non-formal education, the provision of interpretation for health and protection.

To date, the European Commission has mobilised over €1.5 billion of support for Greece to help manage the humanitarian situation, migration and the external borders, through various kinds of funding.

Background

EU emergency support in Greece

In urgent and exceptional circumstances such as the increased influx of refugees in Europe, the European Commission can fund humanitarian aid for people in need within EU territory through the Emergency Support Instrument which was activated for the first time in March 2016. So far, EU humanitarian assistance to Greece through this instrument amounts to €605.3 million.

ESTIA programme with the UNHCR

Today’s new funding for ESTIA will allow the programme to set up 27 000 places in urban settings by the end of 2018. The bulk of the rented apartments will be in cities and towns on the Greek mainland while up to 2000 places will be located on the Greek islands. Several municipalities in Greece are also part of this scheme.

The ESTIA cash assistance scheme aims to reach 45 000 people by mid-2018. Refugees and asylum seekers receive pre-defined monthly cash allocations through a dedicated card. This provides choice and enables them to meet their basic needs with dignity, while supporting the local economy. Making cash assistance more efficient remains a priority for the EU.

The Commission’s humanitarian support complements other EU funding instruments which have already provided significant financial resources for assistance in Greece such as the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund, the European Fund for the Most Deprived, and the EU Health Programme. It is also complementary to the voluntary offers for material assistance initially provided by states participating in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.

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Financial Information

The Emergency Support to Integration & Accommodation – ESTIA programme is funded by the European Union Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid.

In 2018, €155 million is available. This will allow UNHCR to gradually establish 27,000 places in urban accommodation by the end of the year. The majority of the rented apartments will be in cities and towns on the Greek mainland while up to 2,000 places will be located on the Greek islands.

The ESTIA cash assistance scheme aims to reach 45,000 people in 2018. Refugees and asylum-seekers receive a pre-defined monthly cash grant through a dedicated cash card. This allows them to meet their basic needs as they choose, with dignity, while supporting the local economy.

In 2017 a budget of €135.5 million was available in order to provide 22,000 urban accommodation places and pre-defined monthly cash grants through a dedicated card to refugees and asylum-seekers in Greece.

Special thanks

To major donors to the refugee emergency in Europe – the European Union, the United States of America, and the United Kingdom – as well as to all government donors and private donors for their generous contributions. The financial support provided by donors who have contributed with non-earmarked and broadly earmarked funds, as well as for those who have contributed directly to the situation and the Greece operation allows to provide direct assistance and protection, and help find solutions for refugees and asylum-seekers. In this changing operational context, UNHCR is appealing to donors to provide contributions that can be allocated as flexibly as possible.